Smells like team spirit

 Post #619

15/11 Wet and windy ; warriors or weirdo's?

There was a craving to clock k's after three days of relentless rain but it probably fuzzied the focus from Monday's forecast.  The radar had a big blue blob hovering sixty k's south but the addict within reckoned I could squeeze a lap in before things got damp.  Answering "I'll risk it" to Emil's message of "Thoughts?" probably fuzzed his focus too!   

A west northwester chilled the bones headed south to the start-line and I tried to ignore the ice cold spits from the sky but by Kialla Lakes the tarmac had gone glossy with them.  Too late to turn back now, retreat would be ridiculed!  Rule #9 became the sole incentive to continue.  (I guess there'd be few fronting in this climate).  PistolPete's headlight ahead was predictable but finding Wozza and Rocket then Bruce and Lenny stalking Sanctuary Drive said it was a day for warriors (or weirdo's?) My problem was there was way too much wattage in this grid!  (stop your grizzling Foss, you're among friends!)  A tail-wind on Mitchell and River Rd's tempted taking the traditional circuit - so that meant there'd be work to do on the way home.  Seven set sail south and slipping into second last wheel, I had hopes pinned on scoring some of that tail-wind but none of the hard stuff...... just a tow back to town.  (I don't want much do I!) The decision to ride was being seriously questioned as rain soaked the socks, rooster tails of water from the wheel ahead went straight up the nose and worms glued themselves to a once clean bike.     PistolPete pushed the limits of my labor through Kialla Central, thankfully I got a few breaths back on the cautious turn into River Rd.  It was time to be grateful the speed wasn't let off the leash with that prevailing westerly ; maybe many were leaving something in the tank for the hurt homeward?  

Rain had eased and Lenny made the drive to the bridge look easy, the pessimist inside pondered if Emil may have set his target at Coach Rd from the dip, but I was given the elbow of fair play to assume the front seat for the last k to rooster corner.  With help from the westerly, I didn't blow a head gasket getting there, so added a k in Coach Rd to get to One Tree Dam.  Bruce was a good lad, hand-braking his horsepower till I had tucked into the caboose.  That drizzle returned in Boundary Rd (why should we get it easy?!) and being promoted forward again in Old Dookie Rd to face that 30 km/h headwind wasn't on my bucket list.  Lenny led the charge to Central Ave and Emil did duty to Dobson's but I'd dropped a rung on the ladder with a fumble of the foot at Central Ave, so Wozza took my spot.  No complaints, he was delaying my distress into the drivers seat.  Emil set low thirties to the bridge but Wozza's mid thirties into the wind cooked me at second wheel.  I retreated rearward before cardiac arrest put a dampener on the morning.   Chris's coffee was consolation for the conditions though sitting at the Butter Factory dressed damp and with soaked socks wasn't the post ride relief I was used to.  The ride home (like a shag on a bike) wasn't the ideal end either!

16/11 F off Winter!

I'd recognised those Colbrelli legs.  GreatScottSteve had made a surprise return to the Sanctuary squad, joining Kel, PistolPete, Kreeky, Bo, Emil and The Godfather in the hint of daybreak at the grid for Tuesday's assault on the circuit.  The shop squad would be preparing for pursuit three k's behind.  That's their entertainment.  The mercury struggled to get three on the gauge (feels like 0.7 with the southwest breeze) but I guess we should thank the heavens it wasn't raining or blowing a gale.  Of course PistolPete guided us to Mitchell Rd. It was good to be in Indian file format; no pressure to perform alongside someone else (usually a rung or three up the horsepower ladder) and particularly comfortable starting at second last wheel.  

 Kel didn't spare the horsepower getting to Kialla Central and Bo detoxed himself from a four day fishing trip with a concerted effort to reach River Rd.  Birthday boy Kreeky set a comfortable velocity to the dip but it was Emil's visit to the forties that jellied my legs. I couldn't help thinking GreatScottSteve's move to the mountains may have made the man a monster on a bike (and I'd be cooked just sitting in his draft) but Steve's shift was somewhat sedate to Coach Rd.  Emil may have softened him?  That ease should have have left me fresh for a fast shift north, but that was an exaggerated expectation.  One of those days when even a breeze behind didn't do me any favors! 

I could get the engine over 36 but the fuel consumption was high.  My tank was close to empty at the bridges so The Godfather was given the job to take us to the highway.  The shop squad must have smelled blood, passing us before we'd got to Pine Lodge Pub (the usual is in Old Dookie Rd.)    I'll shoulder the blame as being the handbrake.  PistolPete didn't chase the shop squad, bless his stylish socks, but dragged is intact to Old Dookie Rd in silence.  Oxygen had become a precious commodity!   Kel and Bo split the towing duties to Central Ave and Kreeky tried the calmer approach beyond, though Emil did the cork-out-of-a-bottle thing at Dobson's to bolt to the truck route.  The three second wait for truck traffic was enough time to recharge his battery to charge to SPC.

17/11 Sublimely social (& Tina's return)

Single filed but social, Wednesday's ride was gradually brought up to speed under PistolPete's careful deliberation ; with just Bruce, The Godfather, Greg, Kel, Emil, Boof and Rocket turning up for duty, a two row formation seemed like hard work!  As a consequence of an early arrival at the grid, I'd been drawn into 3rd wheel.  (The rear of Emil's La Pierre has become very familiar).  With speed set a little below the standard supersonic, I could survive in 2nd wheel (20 bpm below the usual weekday stress) while Emil dragged the line of 8 to Kialla Central.  I started my turn to drive to River Rd in a better state than usual....though this old engine was almost miss-firing after 2 k's.  

Boof took on the captaincy to River Rd's bridge at the Wednesday standard,  making a big difference to my recovery time (it's unusual for me to be coherent just a minute or so after a shift!)  Kel had no trouble with speed to the dip but was rather silent on the retreat to the rear ; she's better at hiding the hurt than me! (we all go through some sort of suffering in the drivers seat I suppose, unless your name is Rocket Wozza, Bruce, Boof, Lenny, Liam......need I go on?)   A red led ahead was guessed to be Tina in Coach Rd so a call of consideration was delivered to The Godfather as he set sights on the bridges.  Tina got aboard, speed set at a simmer to the highway where Wozza was elected to exert his effort (though he was now at risk of stalling, so speed understandably spiked a bit.  Smoothness made it tolerable).  Bruce led the west way to town as the temperature finally crawled above a sweltering 5 degrees, PistolPete drawing the short straw of a second shift from Central Ave.  That was no bother for Pistol, there was plenty of energy left in his engine to drag us to SPC.

18/11 The morning smoothie

One more degree made Thursday almost bearable ; the fact that wind was was erased from Thursday put icing on the cake.  Squirrels had conspired to cruise a quieter lap and with a 10+ hour a week addiction to two wheels, my ageing muscles could do with a peaceful pace once in a while.  I'd get a rest from that 6k slog south on Archer Rd too, just 2 k's worth at a considered speed to the shop made for a pleasant warm-up.  

Emil did his traditional tap to the truck route setting a low 30's benchmark, so conforming to those protocols of pace wouldn't get any knives in the back, even when I'd extended my shift to the Kinder.  Kim piloted us to the cypress trees where Tina arrived from the east to attach to the train.  Emil led to Coach Rd and added extra to the highway while I soaked up the almost forgotten pleasure of riding below breaking point.  (This might need to be a weekly habit!)  Left in charge at the Pine Lodge pub, the aim at getting to Old Dookie Rd was as easy at this velocity, but let's not get greedy Foss, this game is all about sharing shifts.  

Kim's turn took us to New Dookie Rd and despite the apprehension of taking a turn at the front after 9 weeks off in a.c.l. operation recovery, I was pleased to see Tina lining up for duty in the drivers seat.  Emil got to Lemnos-Cosgrove Rd and extended his shift west to the main channel.  There was nothing sluggish about Tina's turn taking us to Lemnos North Rd (never any doubt in our minds, but probably plenty in hers)  The first two and a bit k's of Ford Rd was mine to lead, Kim supplied the velocity to Verney and Emil of course towed us to town. 

19/11 Fraternal Friday.

Oh......what to wear?!   Of course, it was kit conformity day and the team uniform was kosher but how light on the layers do I go for 13 degrees?  It's been a while since preparing for mild weather.  (The last four months has been a case of insulate to the max!)  Archer Rd's 6 k's was again as much fun as the excavation of a root canal (a southwester made me suffer) though a dozen (Lenny, Kreeky, Bo, Rocket, Wozza, Bruce, Greg, PistolPete, Kel, Emil, Boof and Grumpy) forming at the grid meant that there'd be plenty to share the pain (some might not even come close to that description!) The wind would be an advantage for most of the lap anyway.  

It smells like team spirit (apologies Nirvana!) when the clan is conformed by a team kit, although Bo broke the rules wearing an opposition's gillet (why you'd need one when there's 13 degrees on the gauge is anyone's guess).  Forward propulsion got easy turning east into Mitchell, two rows formed and as usual, those of similar horsepower conveniently paired.  (Except me!  It wasn't my day with Bo ahead and Emil behind as I joined the advance line).  Grumpy rattled Bo's cage by leaving a gap ahead as he chatted away to Rocket alongside.  The fast and not-so-fast factions are combining forces more often than in years past ; the pairing raising the standards of speed (though Tuesdays see the shop squad separate to unleash their true form).  One or two now missing from both sides might make separate forces more of a struggle?  

Greg took a shorter short-cut homeward via Channel Rd which promoted me further toward the business end, Tina joined in from a solo start while Bo and Kel were locked in conversation at the front on who was doing what distance in Boundary Rd.  

I'd at least got part one of my duty at the front with the tail-wind to Old Dookie Rd, part two was the tough bit with the south southwester as a hindrance alongside Emil who waited patiently for me to expire (that happened at School Rd).  Apparently fitness is measured by how quickly you can recover from being on the limit......not a lot came into focus for a couple of minutes so there's your answer on my form!  The gasps must have alarmed Bruce to ask about my well-being.... two word sentences were replied. (With pregnant pauses between!)  Traffic at the truck route split the bunch in two so the slow spin to SPC had me quickly feeling human again.

 

This week 228km        YTD 12,168km